We came to live in Sydney in 1953 and lived in Albion St, Surry Hills. So Old West, as I remember everyone calling it, was the local theatre. I really cannot remember anyone calling it the Odeon.

I can very clearly remember seeing some movies at this theatre. I particularly remember Calamity Jane with Doris Day and The African Queen with Hepburn and Bogart. I also remember Abott and Costello Go To The Moon!!! I am sure I saw many more movies but for some reason they are the three that come to mind most easily. We went very regularly on Friday and Saturday nights. After all, no TV in those days.

Every time I am in Sydney and drive along Oxford St I look at the building with great nostalgia. To this day I watch my DVD copie sof Calamity Jane and The African Queen. I guess going to the Odeon/Old West was part of my film upbringng.

Between 1960 and 1968 it ran Greek films as did many other suburban cinemas in Sydney; They were operated by Mr Chris Louis and his family who are a great immigrant success story in Sydney. Pre TV they might have been allowed a quiet night to rent a cinema to show a European film, then, post TV they were offered the freehold for about 10c each. They bought them up and become one of the biggest cinema owner chains in Sydney, saving a dozen or so from the bulldozer. It was because of their film interests that many suburban cinemas remained: the Redfern Lawson, the Rosebery Marina, The Earlwood Chelsea, Enmore Hoyts, Newtown Hub, and with cousins in Melbourne, the same deal. Some remain, some are dilapidated and some, like Enmore are a major showplace. this one was twinned and still is today, Sydney’s major Arthouse venue.